Social Studies Grade 7 - #1

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Define tikal

An ancient city built by the Mayan civilization

Define Mesoamerica

The area from Mexico to Central America

Define hieroglyphics

Writing using pictures as symbols

Define observatory

A building designed for observing the stars and planets

What is slash-and-burn agriculture?

A farming technique where vegetation is cut down and burned to make room for farming.

What agriculture techniques did Mayans use to overcome farming challenges?

The Mayans used the calendar to determine planting strategies, they built terraces to create more flatlands & raised earth platforms in canals to help with drainage.

What are the tree periods of Mayan civilization?

Pre classic, Classic & Post classic.

What happened to the Mayan Civilization?

They took to the jungles, scholars are not sure why, but it may have been a lack of enough food or drought.

What characterizes the Pre-classic Period?

From 2000 BCE to 300 BCE the Mayans arose from Eastern & Southern Mexico. They farmed the land and lived in simple houses in groups.

What characterizes the Classic Period?

From 300 to 900 CE the Mayans built stone cities, built observatories to study the stars and planets, developed astronomy, mathematics and calendars, independent states.

What characterizes the Post-Classic period?

From 900 CE to 1500 CE the Mayans engaged in warfare, empire building, but had fewer artistic and cultural achievements.

Name the present countries in the Maya where Mayan culture fluorished.

Mexico, most of Guatemala, Belize, Hondouras, and El Salvador.

Who were the Olmec and what were their accomplishments?

The Olmec were people who lived before the Maya. They lived in the jungle areas of Mexico. The Olmec developed large religious and ceremonial centers, and a sun calendar. They lived on the east coast of Mexico. They farmed maize.

Explain the 5 levels of the Mayan social pyramid.

1. The ruler

2. Nobles & priests

3. Merchants & artisans

4. Peasants

5. Slaves

What was daily life like for the Mayans?

Rulers were considered like gods, they declared war, and had advisors.

Nobles and priests knew how to read and write. Nobles were officials, collected taxes, supplies and labor for projects.

Priests maintained the favor of the gods, led rituals, offered sacrifices and foretold the future.

Merchants traded by sea and roads to trade with other cities to get obsidian and jade.

Artisans made objects to pay tribute to the gods, made books, murals, and depicted battles.

Peasants lived in huts, prepared the food, cared for the children and small animals, trapped animals, sewed clothing, tended crops and the men became soldiers.